Longest week of my life.. waiting for 360/12c63 to arrive!

[Folkie]

Hey, Simon,

Isn't that string-spacing amazing? Near perfect, in my opinion (although yours is a new model, so the strings may be slightly closer than on the one I used as a prototype). I'm sorry about the confusion over "flatness" vs. "roundness." You were talking about the neck itself being flatter on the c63 than on your 2002. I was talking about the fretboard radius being rounder on the c63. That's cool that it feels to you like an RM, as I've never played one. If that c63 is still on the wall at Sam Ash, I'll have to check it out again.

String choice really does make a huge difference in tone: specifically I find TI flats really increase a Ric's jangle quotient. I just played my 330/12, which has roundwounds on it, and it sounds much harsher and more prone to rattles than my 360/12 with the TI flats. The stock Rickenbacker compressed roundwounds are so different from TI flats that I'm not surprised that they're a confounding factor in your tone equation. Maybe you'll consider setting up the new guitar with flats, but since it's currently set up perfectly and sounding great, my question would be why mess with a good thing?

I personally would love to see more photos of your new baby. What amp are you playing her through?

Warmest wishes,

Robert

[stsang]

I personally would love to see more photos of your new baby. What amp are you playing her through?

Hi Robert,

I'm not sure what other angles I can take of the guitar, but I'll wait until there's natural light again and accommodate your desire for more photos! I agree that strings can make a big difference. I don't have an amp right now - I'm either DI'ng my Rics with a Janglebox into a mixer (a la Roger McGuinn) or playing them through a Line6 Pod HD. It's not ideal, but it is neighbor friendly and sounds pretty darn good. Roger himself has been reported to say that he favors the DI approach to using an amp for clean sounds. I'd love to get a Vox AC15 like yours or a Fender '65 Reissue Deluxe once I've recovered from the financial shock of this purchase. I also liked the Fender Princeton Reverb I tried with the 370/12RM. I think I'll go audition some amps soon...

I was looking at the Rickenbacker site guitar schematics and I noticed that electrically, the 360/12c63 and stock 360/12 are different! The c63 is "vintage correct" with 250K mixer, vol and tone pots (see: http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/19519.pdf). The stock 360/12 has a 500K mixer, and 330K vol and tone pots (see http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/19502.pdf). In addition to the differences in construction, this should also contribute to a slightly different tone.

Rickenbacker did a really great job with this reissue!

All the best,
Simon

[Folkie]

Simon,

I agree with you that the C63 is a first class authentic reissue of the George Harrison model, which might explain why it's so popular among members of this forum. For that reason, it doesn't surprise me that the schematics between the stock 360/12 and the 360/12C63 are different. Those two guitars are two totally different animals.

Once you get used to the sound of your C63, I would recommend that you take it (and your JangleBox) to a local music store and try out both a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb reissue and a Vox AC15. (Keep in mind that my AC15 was specially modded by Gary at North Coast Music, who replaced the stock Celestion Greenback speaker with a real Alnico Blue.) You might try a '65 reissue Twin Reverb as well. If you're willing to go solid state, you might check out a Roland JC120, or, if you can find one, a used Fender Princeton Chorus amp. As for the Princeton Reverb, I've never played through one, but Rics tend to sound great with Fender amps. It sounds like you have a decent recording setup. Have you done much recording?

If it's too much trouble to supply more photos, don't worry. I'll just revisit the ones already posted. I'm sure your C63 will give you years of pleasure.

All best,

Robert

[JakeK]

Congrats on the new purchase, Simon. The C63 is my favorite of the RIC guitars currently available, and I'm sure yours is great.

Throw some TI flats on it and watch the tones of Hard Day's Night come soaring out the amp. Throw a Janglebox in the chain and you've got a "Ticket to Ride" with that song.

And for the record, I swear by TI flats on any hollow bodied Ric with toaster pickups because it's just a classic sound. I agree with Robert, full roundwounds will make the sound harsher. I tried Curt Mangan's roundwounds on my V64, and although the sound was increasingly brighter, and with the Janglebox, it was too bright. TI flats are the choice of string for me on my V64.

A Deluxe Reverb is my only amp, it's all I want and it's all I need. As I've said before, Norm Harris and Dave Rogers have told me the Deluxe was perfect for my home playing with the occasional small gig. Some members here told me is was good for me in a band setting, too, but I haven't been able to try it out in one of those yet. Ideally, I would like a Vox amp, but an AC-30 is too powerful for home use and an AC-15 may be, too! I would like a Princeton Reverb at some point, but we'll see down the road. My dream amp is a Fender Super Reverb.

[stsang]

By popular request, here are more photos, this time taken in natural light, but still using my extremely amateur photography skills and cheap camera. Please enjoy!

Close-up of body

Close-up of the "slash" soundhole

Check out the square heel

Close-up of the controls

Close-up of full-width inlays

Close-up of headstock (note the vintage style nameplate)

[stsang]

Part 2 of the new photos...

In the case

In the case - full length view

In the case - reverse view

In the case - overhead view

[8mileshigher]

Thanks for the additional pictures ! Yep, that is a real beauty !

[k43rover]

That shade of Fireglo looks superb Simon..well worth the wait and congratulations! Now you just need to go the extra mile and get a camera that will do such a fantastic Rick even more justice...I'd recommend a Canon G12...

[stsang]

Thanks for the additional pictures ! Yep, that is a real beauty !

Thanks Rich! Yep, Rickenbackers never fail to impress. It's obvious why so many folks here suffer from Rickenbacker Acquisition Syndrome.

[stsang]

That shade of Fireglo looks superb Simon..well worth the wait and congratulations! Now you just need to go the extra mile and get a camera that will do such a fantastic Rick even more justice...I'd recommend a Canon G12...

Thanks Eddie! The Canon G12 looks like a good choice.

[stsang]

Once you get used to the sound of your C63, I would recommend that you take it (and your JangleBox) to a local music store and try out both a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb reissue and a Vox AC15. (Keep in mind that my AC15 was specially modded by Gary at North Coast Music, who replaced the stock Celestion Greenback speaker with a real Alnico Blue.) You might try a '65 reissue Twin Reverb as well. If you're willing to go solid state, you might check out a Roland JC120, or, if you can find one, a used Fender Princeton Chorus amp. As for the Princeton Reverb, I've never played through one, but Rics tend to sound great with Fender amps. It sounds like you have a decent recording setup. Have you done much recording?

All best,

Robert

Thanks for the amp suggestions. I'm pretty sure a Twin Reverb is too much amp for me, so I suspect either the '65 Deluxe Reverb reissue, AC15 or Princeton Chorus/Reverb are in the sweet spot for me. No - I don't really do any recording. However now I have two Rics might be fun to record them to see if I can tell the difference!

[stsang]

And for the record, I swear by TI flats on any hollow bodied Ric with toaster pickups because it's just a classic sound. I agree with Robert, full roundwounds will make the sound harsher. I tried Curt Mangan's roundwounds on my V64, and although the sound was increasingly brighter, and with the Janglebox, it was too bright. TI flats are the choice of string for me on my V64.

A Deluxe Reverb is my only amp, it's all I want and it's all I need. As I've said before, Norm Harris and Dave Rogers have told me the Deluxe was perfect for my home playing with the occasional small gig. Some members here told me is was good for me in a band setting, too, but I haven't been able to try it out in one of those yet. Ideally, I would like a Vox amp, but an AC-30 is too powerful for home use and an AC-15 may be, too! I would like a Princeton Reverb at some point, but we'll see down the road. My dream amp is a Fender Super Reverb.

I have also tried the Curt Mangans on my 2002 360/12 and thought they sounded exactly like the D'Addario EXL-150 - i.e. didn't sound too great. I was surprised because they got some good reviews. The TI flats are definitely the way to go! I was hoping to avoid replacing the strings on my new 360/12c63 straight away, but I suspect I will put the TI flats on it this weekend. At least it should be easier with the flat tailpiece. Thanks too for comments about the Deluxe Reverb - I'll have to try one out.

[Folkie]

Simon,

Saw the new photos, and I'm absolutely smitten with that guitar! Now I know what my next purchase will be (that is, if RAS gets the better of me!)

Robert

[Folkie]

Hey, Simon,

I had both a D'Addario EXL-150 set and a Curt Mangan Fusion Matched Nicklewound set on my 330/12 when it still had the hi gain pickups. After I recently switched to 7.4K toasters, I found the sound of the Curt Mangans much too harsh, particularly in tandem with a JangleBox. POTR does make a mellower- sounding Curt Mangan roundwound, but my first order of business, when I have my 330 set up again, will probably be to switch to TI Flats. If you do restring this weekend, please let us know how the C63 sounds with the new strings.

All best,

Robert

[stsang]

If you do restring this weekend, please let us know how the C63 sounds with the new strings.
Robert

Of course, I couldn't wait until this weekend to restring!

After much struggling, finally got the TI flats on.

First of all I thought re-stringing would be easier with the flat tailpiece. It wasn't! Like others, I replace only 2 strings at a time while keeping the other strings in tune.

Maybe I just got used to the R-style tailpiece, but with all the strings in tune, it was really tricky to remove the old string without scratching the body underneath because with the strings in tune, the tailpiece lies very close to the body of the guitar. I put a piece of cardboard under the tailpiece to stop that from happening of course. The other thing is that you have to bend the ball of the string a bit to get it into the slot - that made me nervous.

On the Tony Bacon book, it appears to show George Harrison's 12-string strung with the 'heavier' string pulled over the top the top of the tailpiece and the 'octave' string pulled through under the tailpiece. This looks cool because you only see one exposed string ball (instead of two as in my photo). Have others succeeded in stringing like this (while changing only 2 strings at a time)? The other option I guess is to remove all the strings at once and then thread the new strings however I like, but I don't like removing all the strings at once.